FEDERAL POLITICS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 March 1932, Page 5

FEDERAL POLITICS

THE FINANCE BILL

VALIDITY OF ACT,

(Australian Press Association.)

CANBERRA, March 17,

The resolutions giving effect to the Financial Agreement Enforcement Bill having passed the House of -Representatives, and the Senate, the Prime ‘ •Minister, Mr Lyons, •stated that if was unlikely that the issue of a proclamation far the attachment of monies of New ’•South Wales will be delayed for any considerable period. The Government however, would be prepared to wait for a few days for 'the decision of the High Court in regard to the validity of the Act.

The position is that, provided the Act is valid, Mr Lang or his Ministers will become liable- to a fine of five hundred pounds, and imprisonment for two years if they permit the payment of any income tax to the State, after the issue of -the Proclamation. It will also be illegal for any person to pay money to the -New South Wales collecting authorities.

APPLICATION FOR INJUNCTION

commencement OF hearing

MELBOURNE, March 17,

The High Court began the hearing of the New' South Wales application for an injunction to-day, Mr J. A. Browne, K. 0., is appearing for the New South Wales Government. He argued that the Enforcement Act might prevent the New (South 'Wales Government from carrying on. Even -the" unemployed might not be provided for. The Chief Justice, Sir Frank Duffy : “It is not a question of consequences. It is a question of what we are authorised to do.”

The hearing was adjourned until Tuesday.

The counsel for the Commonwealth, kr Ham, K.C., refused to give any undertaking at the Court in regard to the Commonwealth Government s intentions.

MR BAVIN IN ILL HEALTH

MAY RELINQUISH LEADERSHIP

•SYDNEY, March 18

Mr Bavin’s Ihealth is causing his friends anxiety, and it is reported that he may have to relinquish the State opposition leadership. The Easter labour conference'at Sydney will debate the question of the New South Wales secession from the Commonwealth;

The Premier, sponsoring the proposition according to constitutional -authorities, states 'that secession by any one (State is impracticable.